Google Classroom now generates AI-powered podcast lessons
Google has launched a new Gemini-powered tool in Google Classroom that generates podcast-style audio lessons, available to users subscribed to Google Workspace Education.
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889 storiesWhatsApp adds member tags and event reminders to group chats
WhatsApp is rolling out new group chat features, including customizable member tags, text-based stickers, and event reminders, to enhance user organization and interaction.
Spotify adds real-time listening and Jam requests to Messages
Spotify is adding real-time listening activity and Jam requests to its Messages feature, with broad availability expected by early February in supported markets.
Spotify lowers monetization thresholds for video podcasts
Spotify is lowering its video podcast monetization thresholds and launching new sponsorship tools and an API to help creators publish and monetize content more easily.
Roblox mandates facial verification for global chat access
Roblox is implementing mandatory facial verification globally for users to access chat features, following increased scrutiny over child safety and ongoing legal challenges.
Viral Reddit post exposed as AI-generated fabrication
A viral Reddit post claiming to expose food delivery fraud was revealed as an AI-generated hoax, highlighting the growing difficulty of verifying digital content.
Threads is prototyping in-message games
Meta is internally prototyping in-message games for Threads, though it is unknown when or if the feature will officially launch to the public.
Hacktivist wipes white supremacist sites live at hacker conference
A hacktivist remotely wiped three white supremacist websites live onstage at a German conference, exposing user data and highlighting severe security vulnerabilities.
Amazon brings Alexa+ to the web with new Alexa.com site
Amazon has launched Alexa.com, a new web interface for its Alexa+ AI assistant, aiming to expand its reach beyond Echo devices to compete with other AI chatbots.
Google expands Gemini AI to TV interface at CES 2026
Google is bringing Gemini AI features to Google TV devices, starting with select TCL televisions, though availability will be limited at launch.
Twitter and Pinterest founders launch social startup West Co.
West Co., founded by Twitter and Pinterest veterans, reportedly raised $29 million in a seed round led by Spark Capital to develop its new social app, Tangle.
DoorDash bans driver over AI-generated delivery photo
DoorDash has permanently banned a driver following reports that they allegedly used AI-generated imagery to falsely claim a delivery was completed in Austin.
How Mastodon operates as a nonprofit alternative to X
Mastodon is a nonprofit, decentralized microblogging platform founded in 2016 that offers a federated alternative to centralized social networks like X.
Campus and Fizz founders share strategies for scaling consumer tech
Campus and Fizz founders discussed scaling strategies at TechCrunch Disrupt, highlighting their respective approaches to online education and college social networking.
Why algorithmic feeds are killing the value of follower counts
LTK CEO Amber Venz Box says follower counts have stopped mattering as algorithmic feeds and AI-driven content force creators to prioritize niche trust and clipping strategies.
Samsung to bring Google Photos to its TVs in 2026
Samsung plans to launch a native Google Photos app on its TVs in 2026, offering direct access to the Memories feature with a six-month exclusivity period.
What to do if you receive a government spyware alert
Tech companies are increasingly alerting users to potential government spyware attacks, but they do not provide direct assistance, leaving victims to navigate forensic remediation on their own.
Google prepares to allow Gmail address updates
Google is reportedly gradually rolling out a feature allowing users to change their Gmail addresses, subject to a 12-month restriction on creating new addresses.
WeTransfer co-founder launches Boomerang file-sharing tool
WeTransfer co-founder Nalden has launched Boomerang, a simplified file-sharing service, citing dissatisfaction with the company's direction following its acquisition by Bending Spoons.
How to turn your Apple Watch into a productivity hub
The Apple Watch can be a powerful productivity tool, with third-party apps helping users manage tasks, habits, and focus without needing to check their phones.